OS grid reference NB285206 Country Scotland Post town ISLE OF LEWIS Dialling code 01851 Lieutenancy area Outer Hebrides UK parliament constituency Na h-Eileanan an Iar | Civil parish Lochs Sovereign state United Kingdom Local time Tuesday 8:06 PM Council area Outer Hebrides Scottish parliament Na h-Eileanan an Iar | |
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Language Scottish Gaelic
English Weather 2°C, Wind NW at 14 km/h, 99% Humidity | ||
Balallan (Scottish Gaelic: Baile Ailein, Bail' Ailein), meaning "Allan's Town", is a crofting township on Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Balallan is within the parish of Lochs.
Map of Balallan, Isle of Lewis, UK
The township has the distinction of being the longest village (4 miles measured from end to end) in Lewis, and also in northern Scotland. Straggled along the head of a long sea loch between Arivruach and Laxay, it developed due to a mixture of crofting along the loch shore and fishing. It sits at the head of Loch Erisort.
Those on the loch side were each given direct access to the loch for their boats as well as access to the moorland behind for their sheep. They also attended to their croft, given relative shelter from the elements by the high ground to the west.
The village formerly had a police house, and currently houses a post office.
Just south of the village there is a cairn that stands as a memorial to the Deer Park Raiders. It is one of three Land Struggle cairns to have been commissioned on the Isle of Lewis.